Pages

Wednesday, 6 May 2015

The Cambridges Travel to Anmer Hall

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge left Kensington Palace with Prince George and four-day-old Princess Charlotte today.

Mail Online

It is understood the couple are headed for their country retreat Anmer Hall, where they are expected to spend the summer, with Kate focusing on motherhood and William concentrating on his role as an air ambulance pilot.

More from the Mail Online's story:

'The couple are expected to issue a family photograph with their daughter and 21-month-old Prince George in the coming weeks, but are otherwise expected to remain away from the world's media over the coming weeks.'

The family will be joined at Anmer by Nanny Maria Teresa Borrallo, and the Middletons are said to be planning a stay, too. The Cambridges were expected to leave their London home sooner but decided to wait a few days to give Her Majesty a chance to meet Charlotte, while grandfather, Charles, visited twice.

Below we see the Cambridges leaving Kensington Palace shortly after Prince George was born. The family headed to Bucklebury for several weeks at the time.

The Duchess looked relaxed in a white/cream coat. Ashley believes it is the JoJo Maman Bebe piece she wore for her visit to the set of Downton Abbey.

The appropriately named 'Princess' wool coat is described as "a great investment piece for your maternity wardrobe". The wool-mix fabric gives it a luxurious, cosy feel. The collarless garment features front slant slip pockets, tonal top-stitching and panel seaming.

JoJo Maman Bebe

Kate accessorised with the very pretty Beulah London 'Brisa' scarf. The blue lip print cashmere shawl is described as "a playful print that will liven up any wardrobe. Use to energise a classic tee or create a stylish clash". It retails for £195.

Beulah London

The Duchess wore her hair in a ponytail and completed the look with pearl earrings.

I have a some general questions if anyone knows. Will they have a protection officer living with them full time at Anmer Hall? Do they set up everyone who lives with them with their own quarters and kitchens? Do we know how much staff they have, i.e. a cook or full-time housekeeper etc.? I never knew if the household help lived elsewhere and just came in for the day or a few days a week etc. It is a big house. Finally whenever they show the pool I do not see a fence or cover for it. In the USA you have to have your pool secured to try and prevent accidental drownings, does anyone know what the rules are in the Great Britain. Thanks. Ali PS Hope they enjoy the next few weeks getting settled with the kids in the new home.

From what I remember is that the protection has their own quarters. As does the nanny. All the "Three kitchen kate" stuff is silly, since one of the kitchens is in the nannys own "apartment"-part of the house. This so she can be fully off duty when she's not on the clock. Someone else might know more. :)

I would like to know those things also.seems to me that their home is close to highway and a public little church.would hope they have more than just the regular contingency of security.that should be one of the most comfortable places for the but there is a lot of perimeter to keep secured. I am sure they have that covered. So, I won't worry about it. :) glad I got that resolved in my own mind. :)

seems there would have to be a kitchen in the nanny cottage and hopefully one in the building that houses their po's. I wouldn't want to be the one whose boloney sandwich is smelling up the baby food. :)

Dear Charlotte, I am a regularly reader of your blog but this is my first comment. Thanks for the wonderful coverage of the baby princess' birth. I visited your blog very often within the last two weeks. You did a great job.

I really like Kate. She seems to be so nice and down to earth. But this time I was a bit disappointed when I saw her presenting her little daughter to the world. After the birth of Prince George she looked so natural, more like a woman that had just given birth to a baby. She didn't wear a lot of make up and her hair was pretty normal. But this time it was too much for me. The dress seemed more formal than the one she wore with George, there was too much make-up and I really didn't like her hair - she looked older. She's a mum that had just given birth to a baby and with George she found a very good balance between looking great but natural like a normal mum, this time it didn't work out. In my opinion she should stop using this dark eye shadow and kajal all the time...

But her little princess is soooo cute. Can't wait to see some more pictures of her and George =)

I have to admit I too was a little disappointed. I loved the fact that last time she looked like a woman who'd given birth and was beautiful with it. Her look was more natural, and we were better able to relate to 'our Kate'. It was all about George and less about how she looked. This time around she was so polished and made-up and formal. I understand that she probably wanted to look her best because of the cameras but if she'd listened to the praise first time round she'd realise that she didn't have to worry.

That being said, they both looked like they were on cloud nine and I'm really looking forward to a pic of the family :)

Kate’s appearance had been commented on as a surprise by commenters here in the previous blogs, the general media and even the Russian media saying she looked too good immediately after childbirth, and they claimed it was delivered by a surrogate.

The first time, she seemed to complement Diana’s polka dot dress after giving birth to William. Some people complained then, she took it casually with the dress looking like pajama. Well, it was summer and fittingly light and looked comfortable. It was also her first birth experience. Even she told the awaiting media, “as any parent would know, it can be emotional”.

The common reasoning among people is that she has a team of stylists at her fingertips. That is one of the factors, but the circumstances of her labor medically and her own condition of health makes a difference.There was a high likelihood her labor and care was already under way by the time she arrived at the hospital. If epidural, C-section, excessive IV fluid is not involved, it seems one can look their best if they try. The idea that she set some standard reminds me of how flat her stomach became about after three months of giving birth to George. I have observed women who give birth to girls become more accentuated with their femininity (May be it is an innate thing).

As I recall, Diana was much more formal leaving hospital with Harry (smart coat, big hair) than she was with William (maternity dress we'd seen before, top of her pop-sox showing). Let me stress I am NOT making a comparison between the two women (there's enough of that already!) but I wonder if a couple more years of royal life between births meant that both D and K were just more aware the second time around of how much their appearance would be scrutinised and picked over. I can well see how that pressure would make a woman determined to look as good as she possibly could (even though both ladies looked fine the first time around).

To be honest, every woman post child delivery does not necessarily have to look like Kate. Each woman’s circumstance, mood and life style can be different. In general many women are escorted by one or two family members heading home without a photo op for the history documentaries and photo calls.

It is a transitional time between relief, adjustment and becoming conveniently dressed for breast feeding with a relaxed look. For some women, it could even be the time for onset of postpartum blues. The high heels may not be too common immediately after delivery. She looked comfortable, vivaciously beautiful and happy. Good for her and other mothers who can pull it.

I think it's like anything else. You learn from what you perceive to be your mistakes. Either Kate didn't like the way she looked coming out after having George or she felt better this time and it showed. Who knows? I do think she had her wiglet thingy on, though. No criticism from me for that either. But I'm pretty sure it was there.

I so agree with you Anon 17:14. I would like to be a fly on the wall in some of the meetings of these papers brainstorming for angles to cover the Cambridge's--no doubt they pick the most outrageous angle. Let me say this; those outfits will only print those outrageous stories to the extent that readers will read and discuss and contemplate them. My personal feeling about that is that readers need to be more discriminating-that's my feeling and one which I practice, others not so much.

Dear anon 15, Ihave posted nearly the exact comment on another blog! I am completely 100% on your side. A ponytail, wedges or ballet flats would have been enough, also less make up. She was MUCH more natural after George. But as other commenters pointed out, this will be THE photo, that will be shown and printed and seen a million times also in the future and they seem to have put their priority on this.I know I personally would have wanted to look less like a perfect princess, than a simple woman after childbirth. But apperently Kate and William thought different.Alice

Courtnee, that was funny.She wore a basic shift dress, basicbeige pumps, basic pearls, basic curls that she usually has help with anyway,make-up that she usually wears anyway. Nope, no evening gown,no platform heels, no ermine, no tiara,chandelier earrings, no Jammies.Just photo worthy historical ready simple pretty outfit. Add that sweet smile and voila. Job done.

My guess is we might all dress up more if the eyes of the world were on us and that Kate may have been less than happy with her appearance after George's birth and opted for a little more polish this time. As pointed out, Diana did the same.

The heels seemed a little much, especially as Kate was a bit tippy on them but she does love her heels so I'm not surprised. No other mum should feel bad about Kate's appearance since they don't have her sort of resources at their disposal. But it is understandable that Kate was thinking about how she will look in magazines and books and would try to look as best as she could.

Dear Alice,As you pointed out, that seems to be precisely the case: CHOICEThis thread’s commenters by now reflect the understanding there are at least two images of a woman post labor &delivery. In this case, both Diana and Kate in their own ways fit into the classic expectation after their FIRST new born. Second time around both women seem to upgrade into reflection of their times.

Diana’s time, the 80s style leaned more into big and grand including her wedding dress, train, sometimes shoulder pads and her post-delivery outfit. Kate’s second time around may reflect the working mom during work days in the age of super woman millennia.

Another reason it became a surprise could be the fact that Kate came out of the hospital about five-six hours after the public was notified, and ten hours the same day after labor and delivery.

Julia from Leominster,It seems you are the same commenter as anon from Leominster. Well then, hello Julia.The following had been response I wanted to send your way, but was too late by the time I tried. This blog was moving on fast this past week.

I wanted to say thank you for pointing out that March is mother’s day month in England (I think two blogs from this one). In US, as you might know, it is May (actually today). Happy Mother’s Day to all who observe and/or find true meaning in it.

As far as reading into images, sometimes it is fun and other times it has real purpose.

For all the people who complained about Michael’s seriousness entering KP, Charlotte posted an up dated photo of him smiling as he exited the same.

I am. I was always anon here but used Julia elsewhere and decided to combine the two. Happy Mother's Day to you, if that's appropriate and to everyone else here. I've enjoyed reading your comments very much. You have lots of interesting ideas and information. As far as I'm concerned, mother's day should be everyday. But in March used to be calle d"mothering Sunday" and was a festive break from Lent.

I'm glad Charlotte published that photo. No one can tell anything from one photo and I'm sure Michael is thrilled to have a granddaughter.

He is just a man after all. It is usually hard for men to multi-task. Smiling and driving at the same time might just be too much for him :-) I mean this in the nicest possible way. Anyway I am a woman, and I don't drive and smile simultaneously. I concentrate on the road. And I am the master of multi-tasking. Old Friend

Maybe Michael was thinking about some business details he had yet to take care of and hadn't switched to party mode yet. How many of us smile all the time while we drive? It is one photo and even if it were ten different photos from ten different times it would only signify that Michael wasn't smiling in those photos.

I expect they’ll keep out of the media until the elections are over and then publish a couple of photos like they did with George. After that I don’t expect we’ll see Kate, and possibly George, until Trooping the Colour on June 13. And then the Christening at the beginning of July, before the senior royals go to Balmoral. The queen has quite a full calendar in June, what with Trooping, Garter, Magna Carta, Ascot, service for Waterloo, State Visit to Germany, etc. I wonder if we might see Kate for some of this at the end of June.

It's not a typo (I don't think) - it's a play on a particularly 'posh' type of English accent, the sort of accent that people who have country houses might have. 'Orf' instead of 'off'. It's also a phrase used in Britain to describe the dissolving of Parliament before a General Election - like the one we're having tomorrow.

Paola, since I speak American English, I am not sure of the answer to your question. So I'll leave it to the British speakers. Did you find more in the Italian part than in the English part of the link? Anon 17:40

Speaking of the English, I often look up the pubs and restaurants that Kate and William have been to so I can review the menu.I love different quisine. The best thing about a lot of the British fare is that is seems a lot more diversified than the standard american quisine and has more game and different varieties offish. So much of it I have had to look up to see what the food was, like rocket, haggis, black pudding, bangers and mash, squeak and bubble, treacle.And lots more. It has been a lot of fun.I have my pub/restuarant tour possibilities stored for that future tour that I will talk my family into making. Hopefully sooner than later.Thanks William and Kate for "leading"us to some good ones.

I am so very happy for TRH but sad for us.....maternity leave is for months and months and probably they will stay in Norfolk for the full summer if not longer since William will be working near by. That said, they will have the piece and quiet the crave and will be able to be with their children within that quiet space. Charlotte, as always, thank you so much for all of your amazing and awesome coverage. I know just from habit I will be checking in to see if anything is 'up'. Good health to everyone, and an enjoyable spring/summer season.

I agree. And it won't be tooo quiet. I mean. A picture a few weeks from now is expected. Then trooping in June. Probably christening in July plus possible 2year photos for Georges birthday in July as well. Then the usually quiet August (similar to always). Might be that we see her at Wimbledon once during the summer. Then the three months/the summer of maternety leave they talked about is over :) We'll handle it well :D And Charlotte will do a great job as always filling the blog with facts in slow times! :)

I don't think we will see Kate doing much until the first of 2016. She wants to take an extended lea ve to be with her children. I read that it is fine with the queen. Then they are suppose to have a royal tour sometime in 2016. I hope thye take their children with them.

Thanks Charlotte for providing such great, and up to date coverage of Princess Charlotte's arrival. As usual you did a superlative job. Look forward to the family photo, and Trooping The Color in the coming weeks. Thanks again.

I think so as well but that they will hold the spots open so to say. That they will see how Charlotte fits in and how George copes and if she has the energy she will be at more stuff or if there is more to do at home she won't have to pull out of stuff.. I think that's the smart way :)

The morbidly curious part of me wishes that we could get a peek inside the Cambridge's newly renovated homes! I love Kate's fashion sense, and I bet I'd like her home decorating sense, too. It would be like an episode of HGTV: Royal Edition.

I know that they want to keep their personal and family life private, though, and that's good of them. I think a balance could be struck--the Swedish royal family, for example, does a good job of regularly releasing photos of CP Victoria and her husband Daniel and daughter Estelle, often taken in their home. I feel like it would be a good a way of satisfying the media so that they're less intrusive trying to get those elusive shots of the kids. But maybe they think that would just feed the press more.

I don't know that she's necessarily in the limelight any more than any other young royal in line for the throne. We see her at a lot of group events with the rest of the family. I think it just seems like she's more in the limelight because they're just more open with allowing the media access to planned photographs, and if that helps keep the paparazzi away, I think it's a good thing.

It is interesting since both William and Victoria were raised with cameras on them (and both married commoners.) Victoria is making quite an active reputation as a future queen - William is attractive but much less well-defined with regards to how he will see his royal role in the future.

Estelle at the same age as George, seemed confident, adorable and even a little precocious. George seems sweet but a bit shy - even a little timid. Estelle's publicity may not be that much more but it is well controlled. George has been much less often seen at home and thus is more a target for paps. He has had less exposure to cameras in the last year and to use a canine term - is not as well socialised.

I can't see how the attention would harm Estelle. Many children raised in the public eye have done extremely well down the road - I'm thinking of Jackie Kennedy's children and Chelsea Clinton among others. Regardless of what anyone's political views are, few would say these children haven't been successful and appear well-adjusted. I'm thinking it has more to do with parenting than anything else.

William will do George no favours by being over-protective when it comes to the press. The press is an absolute necessity for the royal family and the better the relationship, the better the publicity. The greatest gift William could give George would be to teach him to be relaxed, confident and accepting of cameras and poised in public. The worst would be to make him fearful or hostile or unduly suspicious. Controlled publicity at regular intervals would seem the best way to accomplish this.

George is a future king - for his parents to show him by both example and teaching what his future role is from a young age would be the best thing they could do for him. Many royal children have grown up to be well-adjusted and strong leaders with this type of guidence from their parents and I hope in a few years that will become William and Kate's main goal.

Technically true but at the queen's diamond jubilee it was William and Kate with Charles and the queen, not Anne, or the Kents or Gloucesters. William - and George - are the future. They aren't third tier.

From a practical stand-point there is an unprecedented lack of working young royals out there today. When I was a small girl, Alexandra was the star of the family, even though there was almost no chance that she would ever be queen. Before that, attention was focused on Margaret and her "set". Then when I was a teenager, young people looked at Charles and Anne and later Andrew, even though again, he wasn't directly in line. It's hard to believe now but he was hugely popular. Then it was Diana.

Some have suggested the young just assume the royals are working with no need for someone to relate to but the young people know feel a loose affection in the queen, but have almost no interest in Charles and Camilla (actually they are more indifferent than I am. They just don't care.) Their only interest is in William and Kate, and increasingly mainly in Harry who is seen as approachable and is very popular.

I think in many ways it is unfortunate that Beatriice and Eugenie weren't encouraged to take on royal duties as they might have filled a gap but have instead have generated negative publicity rather than positive. They are no further from the throne than Alexandra was.

I have always tried to avoid placing blame on this situation because frankly, I don't know where it should lie. It may well be that Charles fears that if William and Kate got too much publicity it would lead people to want them as next on the throne instead of him. But attempts to bring attention to his work have failed badly. There was very little publicity about his recent visit to the States. All that is happening is that people are losing interest in the royal family in general - except when there is an event like a royal baby. Many people no longer seem to understand the purpose of the royal family or what they really can accomplish. I think this is a shame but don't have any immediate answers. I just think it is worth to keep reminding people there is a future generation out there someday and a few more pictures wouldn't hurt.

Exactly royalfan. Victoria is the Crown princess, she is next in line. Charles is crown prince and next in line, not William. Furthermore, the media in Sweden is more benign than in the UK and there is nowhere near as much interest in the Swedish royals as there is in the British royals. Lastly, the Swedish royals did not have a family member be chased into a tunnel by media and subsequently die. There are similarities, but please be aware of the differences. Apples and Apples...Old Friend

I agree. But we will be able to fill that time. Imagine. We'll get family photo and talk about that. THen get to know when and where the baptism will be, guessing on the godparents, what colour will Kate wear?. That will give photage of maybe even George but definatley Charlotte. A few days after that there will be release of the Christening pictures and later Georges 2nd birthday with probably some pictures as well :)

If I were a royal (or a celebrity, or anyone else who might be the subject of a blog) I'd stay far away from the blog world and social media! There's so much negativity and nitpicking out there (not necessarily on this blog, just in general), it would be entirely depressing feeling like you could never do anything right.

Maybe a job for an assistant or someone with the press office in charge of keeping track of image/public opinion or something.

Almost all people in public life face this issue - it is worse for politicians than it is for royals. It is the job of their publicists to monitor what is written - I recall seeing secretaries back in the Charles and Diana days doing just that on a royal tour. I can't think it would be healthy for a royal to follow it too closely themselves - whether the press be good or bad - but to be out of touch would not be good either.

We all face criticism in our daily lives at school or work - using it to advantage is what counts.

It took them about 2 and a half hours to drive there and when they arrived they went in through a back entrance as the media we outside the main entrance of the house. Security opened the front gates to distract the media/photographers etc. The police have issued a statement to all media outlets reminding them that the Sandringham Estate is private property and not to take photos with long lens cameras. I hope they get the peace and quiet they deserve to bond as a family of four.

Anne in Manchester: Thanks for the update. Good for the Cambridge's that they were able to get home safe and unmolested. They did publish that a new road was being cut as an entrance to the home if I am not mistaken and also the walls were being raise and trees planted for privacy. In addition, Prince William is fiercely protective of his family: he might be a papa bear but he morphs into a mama bear when it comes to the safety and protection of his family, at least in my opinion.

as a father should. Especially against a world media that has been aggressive and unscrupulous in the past. William knows what that feels like to a child because that happened to he and Harry. The press knows not to mess with William and I for one am glad. He also gives them planned opportunities more than I thought he would. If a crowd came at me with all their Iphones day in and day out plus media I wouldn't like that for one second. No wonder when a child asked William what super power he would like if he were a super hero he said he would want to be able to be invisible.

Remember, that superheros do not use their powers all the time, only when expedient or necessary. No question, there are times when a man in his main role as king must be highly visible. He is a public figure. However, it shows incredible self-awareness and sensitivity to recognize--as a child--that the ability to be invisible would be a welcome superpower to have.

Fortunately, even without having a superpower he does have the power of position that allows him to limit the access of the press some of the time. In a negatively charged dynamic, William sets the boundaries for himself and his family--as he should. There's no reason at all for him to indulge the piranha element in the press. There's quite a difference between that and legitimate PR.

Now that they are off to enjoy the summer at Anmer Hall, what will I look forward to each day, as I check your blog, Charlotte everyday !! maybe that does not say much about my life, but I so enjoy the information and photos!! As others have mentioned, we had been waiting for the birth of baby Charlotte for months, and it is over in a flash and they are off to the country. I will be looking forward to future posts and photos. Thank you for your great coverage these past 2 weeks. It has been such a joyous event and I am so happy that they have a beautiful and healthy little girl. Nancy

The cup is made by Emma Bridgewater: she designed teapots to be sold to raise funds for one of the Duchess' patronages. The mug purchased which also is a preorder item, comes with free shipping which is a bonus-- shipping across the pond to the US is very expensive. In addition, it is also helpful that the outfit shipping the items to purchasers in the US is local, meaning they are located here.

Great post as usual! I do wonder if Kate is actually wearing her white coat. Would it not be too hot/uncomfortable to wear a full on coat while travelling in a car for a couple of hours? I think its more likely she's wearing a knit-top/sweater.Melissa from NZ.

I agree, it looked more like a sweater in one of the photos, maybe even the textured sweater she was seen wearing on the Australia/New Zealand trip? I'd expect a sweater and jeans for the long drive to Norfolk would be a more practical choice.

I just read that it's 120 miles, and takes about two and a half hours to drive there from London. It was funny to read that the gates to Anmer Hall were opened when William and Kate were due to arrive, with media waiting for photos, but William drove in a back entrance to avoid the press. Also read that 'letters' have been issued by Norfolk Police requesting privacy for the royals while in residence at Anmer (including long lenses, haha!) They deserve some down-time and will have their hands full with a newborn and a very lively looking toddler.

i haven't commented at all this past week; but it was all very exciting and the coverage was excellent!

we are all going into detox now i believe...

I was thinking, since they already used all these obvious names (charlotte is by very far and undisputably the most beautiful and very aristocratic one of the available options) and then elizabeth and diana, i do have a feeling there will be no more babies! Because, truly, they already gave away the most royal and honourful names....

And we know William said he wanted two (and he normally gets his way), The BRF is concerned about overpopulation etc etc.

So William and Kate are essentially bowing out of the royal life (while still enjoying the perks) for an untold number of years, abandoning the public and, more importantly, the charities who have depended on their names, faces and, most importantly, the media coverage of the royal visits and event attendance, to raise funds and awareness. Those charities are now left to shout? I am sorry but if William finds the public life so abhorrent, he can't stand the media, he seems to dislike the British public almost as much as he hates the media, judging by his sour expressions whenever he's in public attending an event with the public present, and seems to have absolutely no desire to perform royal duties, to help out his father or his grandparents with their heavy schedules of royal duties. Why not just abdicate, for himself and his children? He doesn't want George or Charlotte in the public or to be seen by the eyes of the peasants. If he doesn't want to while his grandmother is alive, then certainly it should be the first thing he does as the Heir Apparent, once his father takes the throne. Anmer Hall is being repeatedly described as a "fortress," which is an odd way to describe a charming country house where you want to raise two little kids in a natural setting. We all get that they "crave privacy." But they also both need to grow up and understand that they won't have total privacy unless they retire to a totally private life or - unless they give the public a look inside once in a while. I'm rather surprised that their crack PR team doesn't understand the law of supply and demand - that if there is a steady supply of photos of the young royal family, the paps won't get top dollar for their own pics. Charles and Diana, for all their faults, seemed to understand this much better than Will and Kate do. Prince Charles has always had a well-publicized paranoia about being attacked or assassinated and it's appearing like he's passed his paranoia on to at least one of his sons. And Kate, of course, will go along with whatever Wills and the RF want. For all that they wanted to be "just like us," this royal couple is becoming more and more bizarre in their actions and behaviors as time progresses. One can't help but wonder what all this privacy is concealing ...

As much as I would like them to see out and about more, let them give the benefit of the doubt and hope that, they will both return to public duties soon and give us more. Until let them enjoy some family time which Kate does not enjoy asa William returns to work. She will be left alone with the kids no wonder she wants her family around.On the other hand I understand your concern about Will's privacy issues and his way of neglecting royal work.

what all this privacy is "concealing" ?????? how about normal everyday life??????? without the cameras trying to get any picture of their normal daily life to sell.they have NOT abandoned their charities. did you get up on the wrong side of the bed today or are you just jealous? William and Kate do more public service than all of us on this blog combined, including you maybe? It is so easy to criticizeanything. walk a mile in the shoes.

where, exactly, is Amner Hall being described as a fortress????????It is open to a busy highway and a public access church. No stone walls, no moats, no buttresses.Where are are these sources that are calling Amner Hall a fortress. I would like to learn more about thatsince it looks fairly vulnerable to me.

I know we aren’t supposed to encourage this sort of thing, but I have to thank Elizabeth for giving me a good laugh. The dig at Charles’s ‘paranoia’ was particularly amusing in it’s ‘’pott-kettle-ishness’’. (btw, by definition it’s not paranoia when your mother, children, grandchildren and yourself receive death threats regularly)

I don't know how they have coped with their public roles and the potential dangers that have been associated with that. talk about courage and resolve just to fulfill your schedules.A lot of people who are not even close to having that kind of vulnerability have home security systems, go cams, etc.Kudos to the Royal family for keepingon keeping on. you help ALOT of people in your daily schedules.

Hello Anonymous, perhaps you'd like to get an exhibit together of all the public service everyone here does vs what William and Kate do. I think it might be quite enlightening.

Elizabeth was making the point that if privacy is so important, if they crave a normal private life, there's a way to have it. And that is by bowing out. That's a lot more complicated than it sounds, as I believe the Commonwealth would have to agree, and there would be the issue of what would happen to George and Charlotte. If William were to find it so onerous, one would think he wouldn't want it for his children either.

And, for what it's worth, Elizabeth didn't sound jealous to me. Just the reverse actually.

I would be willing to bet that part of the Anmer remodel was state of the art security. It is on a private estate, but it does look exposed. I suspect it looks more exposed than it actually is, but I don't blame them for not wanting people looking in while they're eating breakfast.

Might just do that. shouldn't take too much effort to list their altruistic endeavors since they are a matter of public record. Proportionately given the number of bloggers and the Royal families hours available it isn't a stretch to say they most likely do outperform in that area. It isn't rocket science.The Queen seems satisfied with the amount of service everyone is supplying. William and Kate are on the third tier. They still do their part and he does work as a rescue pilot while Kate is a stay at home mom who does charity work. Not so lazy or unproductive in my opinion. who knows what kind of briefings or training they are receiving behind the scenes in preparation for reigning one day.Queen Elizabeth received loads of that kind of training.William has trained dutifully in all thebranches of the military in preparation for being the head military person when he is king. He has learned to fly advanced aircraft, finished college, married and is raising two children,has gone overseas for the Queen, done other various charity works,started a significant trust with his brother and wife and has handled the press with aplomb. All this and he's only 32. I wonder if any of us could do better.

I think William is preparing perfectly for the monarchy. If he wanted to"bow" out, he would have done it by now so the queen could smooth things over. I see no indication in him whatsoever that he wants to bow out.That he wants some privacy is only human. So does the queen and she has figured out how to do it. So is William. kudos to William and Kate.They are flourishing and I, for one,thank God in heaven for that. I am so happy for them.

Actually, Charles has been reported as being rathe paranoid, particularly after Diana died when many felt his fears about attempts on his life were overblown. Frankly, these days, any of us could be in danger and anytime but to live life fretting about that seems hardly worth it.

Note the number of "ifs" in my post, Anonymous who mentioned bowing out.

Other Anonymous, if you want to believe what you wrote, I am not here to rain on your parade. But that is the most optimistic rendering of William's altruism that I have ever read. I think he may also be a bit insulted that you refer to him as "third tier", though. Sounds a bit like a bargain basement. Now compare that with what people here have done, as you mentioned earlier. You said that he would compare favorably. You'll have to factor in the fact that most of us were not born royal, nor do we have the financial wherewithal or ability to open doors that William has, though. I'm still looking forward to reading it.

I honestly can't believe the harsh accusations being made against W&K. A bit dramatic to say the least. Kate just had a baby, William will start the new job and they will not be in the spotlight for a while. There's nothing new here except a fresh round of W&K bashing. If this is how some folks get their kicks, then oh my.

other people have put it this way.The queen and Phillip.charles and camillawilliam and katethey are third in line you say potatoe, I say potato William has done the best with what he has, that's my opinion and I am sticking to it. :)he could embrace a "Paris hilton type" lifestyle but he chose not to.bowing out was mentioned here today other than by yours truly.nothing I said about william wasn't simple and to the fact, not fanciful at all as far as I can discern.I will do my homework though. That will be fun as I think he does deserve a fair shake. should be a piece of cake.Obviously a lot of emotion running around about the royals and whether they live up to our expectations. Theold philisophical "egocentric predicament" comes about again.ho hum. :)

Elizabeth gave some opinions, and all she's got is a bunch of people complaining about the fact that she posted them. Motivations for publishing an opinion are not germane to a discussion. What's germane is the opinion and it would really be great if we could talk about it for once.

Why is William so concerned with his privacy? Why does he not seek some accommodation? Is he comfortable with his future role? Is he ambivalent? Does he wish he could be in Harrry's position instead of being in the responsible role? Does he resent it? Is he happy with it?

those questions are highly subjective and not just a little redundant as such.The only one who can answer those is William himself. talk about being Germaine to the subject. :)His actions seems to indicate he is still with the program and okay with it. He's not inordinately concerned about privacy.

Bluhare I commend you for trying to back up Elizabeth. Honestly I have just started ignoring 'anon' comments as I feel if they cannot back up their statement with a name then it is not a comment worth discussing. Plus I think the anons are the same person:).

Also when a person cannot think of a good argument they bring up the jealous comment. Because Kate is beyond criticism and those who do must be jealous! It's really silly. Elizabeth brought up some good questions. But sadly some people can't handle it. Btw Royalfan, criticism is not bashing. So please stop acting like someone pointing out something negative about Kate is horrible and so offensive. Your the only one bring dramatic. So don't get your knickers in a twist. Honestly I hardly come here anymore because of people who only idolize Kate instead of just liking her and thus get rude when anyone questions Kate. There is nothing new here other than people thinking they need to personally defend Kate like she is their bff and thus being insulting/rude to varying opinions. It's quite nauseating!

I beg to differ, bluhare. Motivation *is* germane when comments such as Elizabeth's are published on a FAN blog. Considering the tone and content, I'm not sure how one can argue that it was just an attempt to share opinions and talk about them. And I believe you are too intelligent to truly believe the defense you are offering on her behalf.

I've always been Julia on other blogs such as royal hats... I used to try to keep things separate but finally decided to combine the two. So I'm not quite as anon as I used to be. (Also takes care of those rumours I am a man that popped up sometime back.)

I wonder whether it would be best to simply ignore bombastic negative attacks. Walling such fulminations off with silence would probably deprive their authors of whatever pleasure they derive from them.

It would be hard to discuss William's motives since we are not possessed of the facts about his thinking. Whatever we said could only be guesses.

BRAVO, BRAVO, BRAVOIn psychology, that "ignoring" is called putting a behavior on an "extinction"pattern. And it works. So apropos in these situations as truly William is the only one who can answer those questions. WHY go on and on and on and on about that? Truly, what is the motivation for that?

I seriously doubt that William would be offended by being called "third tier".really. That to me is laughable and really grasping at straws. Let's all draft a letter, questionnaire, to William and ask him in simple, polite form about his feelings, plans, motivations and perspectives. Keep it to five questions,send it off and see what happens.More proactive, less speculation.

Please show me where it states this blog is for fans only, royalfan. I commend your defense of my intellect, but I must confess I wonder why the rest of you only have one argument. You and I used to have plenty of conversations where we disagreed and they were civil. Not so much now.

The rest of you (and I agree Kat; it's only a couple of people if that, who don't have enough courage to sign their names to their (sometimes) vituperative comments) make me laugh, you really do. The blog is rampant with speculation, and if we can only discuss what they've actually said, the comment section would be a yawning chasm. Fans speculate constantly about Kate, ad nauseum actually, comparing her to a saint in one instance.

So, please PLEASE, put people you don't like on "extinction". I welcome it. That way those of us who would like to talk about it can do so without being interrupted incessantly with unnecessarily vicious comments.

I would be careful about throwing the "J" word around for someone who expresses a contrary opinion. I know people who are republicans. I don't agree but I wouldn't term them jealous. They raise valid questions about the equality of people and the expense and purpose of the monarchy. Why someone is royal is being questioned. To say republicans are jealous because they don't agree with me, would be to say I'm jealous of Ed Miliband. I'm not, believe me, I'm not. The points Elizabeth makes are valid ones and you don't have to be a republican to be concerned about William and Kate's actions. They are a very popular couple simply because of youth and beauty and they are riding on that and the overall security of the monarchy. Not all think this is good or wise. The couple is more than entitled to time off to enjoy Charlotte but sometime soon I would like to see them act like the prince and princess that appear on Charlotte's birth certificate. Their work ethic has been called into question in many sources. For some of us to look at the long-term at a time where the very word "Great Britain" is in question - isn't jealousy - it's unease. We want a strong monarchy - there is nothing wrong with that. To assume that will happen automatically is one opinion - but we don't all agree with that view. Personally, I think the time to build a strong royal reputation is now, not later. As for the article on the Middletons, I think it is nonsense but I do think Kate needs to lessen her growing reputation as mummy's little girl. I was a mummy's girl until the day Mum died but I would never have let that show in my professional life. It's less a case of William and Kate not being close to the Middletons than showing some independence. There is a great void right now about the couple and the Middletons are filling it. There has I think been some articles about them backing off from reporters who are likely to have connections with the palace - so this isn't all fantasy.Yes. the queen approves. But she apparently accepted Charles' relationship with Camilla and didn't tell him to go mend his marriage. She has allowed Andrew freedom to ruin his reputation. She loves her granddaughters Beatrice and Eugenie - and yet has not curbed their holiday excesses which is destroying their reputations. The queen is a wonderful woman but anyone who thinks she always has the pulse of the nation should remember the film - The Queen. No, I'm not jealous. . I was thrilled with the birth of Charlotte and I want her to grow up with a secure monarchy - one that gives republicans less valid scope for criticism. Unmitigated admiration isn't always the wisest thing for anyone. Prince Charles has been much too flattered in my opinion especially by his wife. (I'm not jealous of Camilla either - I just think she is very bad royal news - although many disagree.) Can't we just accept we have differing concerns and opinions without seeking motives?

But I am afraid wthat u will get in return is: yes, it is a fan blog, you can disagree but the constant, harsh criticism, taking down are tiring. So I am starting to give up hope that we can discuss anything here without name calling.

All of the people who sign Anon are definitely not the same, or even just two! We are quite a few who might use a moniker elsewhere but do not want to make ourselves victims in the cat fight here.

I believe Kate's dress was said to be a cotton and wool blend. It seemed she could have used a coat with it. She was quoted by a lip reader as telling William she thought Charlotte was cold, and they should take her inside. Charlotte was pretty well wrapped up, but Kate was probably chilly.

Anonymous 8:19 both a fun and worthwhile issue to raise. Here are my questions for William, not yet narrowed to five.1. Sir, you are a cypher to me. You have expressed interest in the homeless, in the protection of wild animals and your foundation has a number of charities linked to it but there is little public familiarity with these charities and you have not been recently active in any of your causes. If and when you take on a full-time royal role - will these continue to be your main interests and how will you support your causes? 2. I've have noticed many recent immigrants are some of the most ardent republicans. Many come from countries where equality was an issue. Presumably these beliefs may be passed to their children. Without dealing with the issue of immigration which is beyond yours or my control, how do you plan to engage these people?3. Your grandmother saw herself as taking a sacred vow and has indicated she will never abdicate, yet abdication has recently become more common in other monarchies. What is your view? Would you consider abdicating for George? Do you see your vows as sacred?4. Your father created the Princes Trust, your grandfather an awards scheme. Yet young people are now less engaged with the monarchy. How do you plan to draw them in and do you have any plan for a scheme of your own?5. The European monarchies are filled with active young royals but many royal events there have no British members from the royal family attending. Why is this - the family or the government, and how does it fit with England's place in the EU?6. You and the duchess don't have a lot of practical royal experience. If you were to become king tomorrow, would you be prepared to take on the work load? How do you see your future role as king?7. You're presently a helicopter pilot. Your wife is a housewife who dabbles in charity work. Why should I curtsy to you? I don't say I won't but I want to hear why you think I should. Why do you see yourself as entitled to that extra respect if you're not an active royal.8. Do you mind be calling third tier. Do you have any idea what I'm talking about?

Vowww Julia, I wish he had answered a few, it would be so interesting to hear his point of view. Sadly it is a wait and see game. CuriousKatPlease be encouraged to share your point of view, dont let the yessayers put you off any topic.

I can feel the need for detox or a support group right now. I am having Duchess Kate withdrawals. All summer!! Oh sigh. Thank goodness we have promised photographs to perk us up a bit. I know they deserve this rest and bonding time. Thank you Charlotte.

Charlotte is anyone donating to Baby Cambridge#2 for East Anglia Children's Hospice (EACH) to help a child on behalf of Princess Charlotte?

If you Google photos Amner hall you can access a lot of photos of Amner hall and the property. and also the articles that go with the photos. They show where the nannies place is and the place for the po's. Also shows the pool and the tennis court and the 16 x 16 breakfast sunroom with the glass roof. Also shows the kitchen prior to Kate's renovation and also how close they are to the highway and the nearby church. probably a lot more because there are a lot of photos and articles.

Charlotte. I have a brilliant Idea. Why don't you work with Claudia Bradby and start designing pieces for us with her to commemorate duchess Kate and her family.your blog is so artfully done I think you could knock it out of the park as we say here in the states. really. pleeeeease. :)

Gosh-I so like the idea that our blog family could work with Claudia Bradby to design pieces to commemorate Duchess Kate and family. BTW- we as a collective group selected the little babies name- correctly!! Would be so much fun!!

I do not understand what was offending about my suggestion of a Kate loves post on beauty regime. I see you have accepted and posted a lot more topics I consider offending to other readers and to the Duchess. Furthermore, this was the first time I have commented here having read the blog since the birth of Prince George. I thought I could praise you and at the same time come with a wish for a future post. I will not continue to comment if my comments will not be recognized. Jen

You know, I really don't like the anti-Carole stance that the media has taken. But there is something that rings truer than usual from DM articles. What do the others think ? Anything authentic about this?

I think these attacks on the Middleton's are disgusting. It's almost as if their story has been *too* much of a success story, with their daughter's marriage to a future king being the straw that broke the camel's back. If you consider all the problems we face in today's world (people being beheaded for religious beliefs, people struggling to make ends meet, bullying and shootings in schools, starvation, disease...OMG... I could go on...) it really does make it seem as though some folks are determined to find *something* wrong with this family. Things can't be this good for them...they can't be so happy.

The Middleton's made their own way, they educated and raised their children to be good citizens, they have been involved with charities (and ALL of their children are in some manner), etc. For this they should be applauded and not torn apart with a vengeance that does appear to be personal at some level.

And if you're wondering if I am pointing to the "j"word, the answer is yes. When it is sooo over the top, it's difficult to see it as anything else.

Hi Anon 04:24, thanks for sharing the link to an interesting article. Who knows, but it sounds like much of it could be true. Clearly Carole has excellent organisational skills, but it's a little concerning to think that Kate relies on her so much. William obviously likes her company, no doubt to assist Kate, and perhaps genuinely likes the calm and order she creates around them.

I can see why Michael Middleton would be uncomfortable though, and hope it doesn't bode ill for their marriage. If he's happy in Berkshire, he certainly wouldn't want to relocate close to Anmer Hall. Perhaps as the article says, he doesn't have much say in the matter.

In the long term, either Pippa or James marrying and having further grand-children might take Carole's mind off the Cambridge's lives? Some of the detail in the article is very interesting, in terms of how they live. No matter what we might think of Carole, I bet most of us would welcome someone as trusted as her as a close family member to keep things in order and entertain the children!

Whether disgusting or not, this is being reported in the mainstream press, and Carole should take note as SHE will be the one to take any blame if anything goes wrong in the future.

If it is truly creating tensions in Carole and Mike's marriage then it is a problem, no matter where you stand on Carole. If she is willing to throw a 30 odd year marriage away to run William and Kate's life, well . . . . not sure what to say about that other than I'm glad I don't have to deal with it.

That being said, I don't care what they do in their private lives. I care when it intersects with the public, as in the privacy issue and how it's dealt with publicly. However, it doesn't give me a whole lot of confidence in their ability to deal with life and their future public roles if they can't even deal with their own house and staff.

I am the original Anon who posted the link. I guess I was wondering whether people think it is true or not ? I don't doubt that the media is "j" of Carole.. I absolutely believe that. However, there were a few points in the article that are so fine in detail that I don't think that DM reporters would have the intellect to dream them up. There is a ring of truth to it. If Kate can only function at Anmer with her mother around that would be alarming. I am sort of inclined to believe it because I remember that picture of Carole, Kate, George and the RPO. Carole seemed to be saying something quite intensely to the RPO, while shielding Kate. There was a definite vibe of "You need to listen to me - I make the calls around here" from Carole, while from Kate it was "My mom has it, I am only going to listen" and the RPO was like "I don't want to take orders from this lady".There was a certain "gatekeeper" vibe to the whole picture.

If it is indeed true that Carole is spending a month with them I would be very very concerned. It is crossing a line, a big one at that.

"reported in the mainstream" is so reliable. all those extrapolations from that are even more hearsay and speculative than the mainstream reports. none of it even bears logic.people just stirring the pot or in these speculations more likely the cauldron from the tone of things. dear God in heaven help us all. Lol

It's interesting because there's been confirmed sightings of Carole Middleton in Bucklebury and the Berkshire area in the past couple of days. It certainly is hard to believe much of what the media are reporting.

Not unusual for moms to help out after a birth. I read the daily Mail article and sure seemed like an unfriendly article in the way it was written. I think they were trying to make trouble. The details of flowers, menu, schedule do not a Villan make, only the words surrounding those things. Michael arrived in a separate vehicle and they say their marriage is in trouble? ridiculous. I pray for the Middletons and the daily mail. that bordered on jaded journalism in my opinion.Since when have most bloggers here been fans of the daily mail anyway?are we bored or what?

Where I live, it is traditional for a mother to go to her daughter's aid after childbirth. The DM's description is slightly ridiculous, but Carole would be considered neglectful if she were not available to help Kate for awhile after a new baby.

Yes, hard to figure out and pure speculation on our part much of the time. I did wonder though that while William is on paternity leave, perhaps Carole would stay in Berkshire, and it would make more sense for her to be around to help Kate with two little ones when he returned to work? Time will tell, but she may go to Anmer when William returns to work in a few weeks' time.

Thank you, Charlotte. Carole is obviously not in Norfolk, that should give you guys something to think about.I do wonder how the daily mail came up with that thing about the children's clothes being wrapped in tissue paper though. That seems almost too strange to be made up.

That is the type of thing Martha Stewart advocates as a "good thing" and any other number of articles over the last fifty years in Women and lifestyle type magazines. If you were the type to enjoy that sort of thing the pink and blue would be cute.

I wouldn't put any credence in any of it.I know they did a huge article on Carole's 60 th birthday party going into detail after detail. That has generally all been debunked. And, facts can be presented as good or bad depending on the flavor/choice of the words around them. I think it is almost criminal how they seem hell bent for leather to try to malign the Middletons.On the stage of world players, I think the Middletons are aspiring to live a decent life and not hurt anyone. So why try to take them down. There area lot of other stories to cover that are actually stories. anyone can give details. Those details are not truly corroborated and thus just hearsay.GOSSIP

Thanks for all of your hard work with this blog. You've created a wonderful community here! I know we're entering a joyous lull at present, and I'm sure you have wonderful coverage planned to fill the gap. Since the community is truly international, I thought it might be great to do a few posts featuring British ethos and culture. Perhaps it could be featured as a special subset of the Kate Loves. Perhaps 'Kate Loves Great Britain: ________(insert topic)'. Here are a few things that I, perhaps along with some of my fellow Americans, am curious about:

1. The betting surrounding Princess Charlotte's birth. Is it something of a national passtime? Is it primarily related to sport AND the Royal Family? What else does the British public enjoy betting on? What percentage participate?

2. The quintessential British diet. In some articles featuring William, Kate, and Harry sightings at restaurants, their meals are described. The food sounds foreign to an American palate, so I wondered if you would be interested in doing small features on their favorite dishes. It could be one way in which we could emulate Kate and feel a little bit more "British" (which I personally equate to 'refined' and 'polished').

3. What in fact IS the proper way to serve tea? That is, if you or Kate or Carole Middleton were to do it, what steps would you follow? It always seems so natural and graceful when a UK woman pours tea and holds a tea cup. My UK friends tell me that what I drink is not, in fact, "tea" and laughingly refuse to explain. I think they enjoy the "Oh, you silly American..." bit. All in fun, of course. Does the nation still observe "tea time?" Is it a daily ritual for you, and do you think it would be at the Cambridge and Middleton homes? And what exactly is "high tea?"

4. Are there data to indicate the fiscal impact of Kate's involvement with her charities and patronages? I know there seem to be data about her impact on the fashion (consumer) world, so I would hope there would be information on her more serious pursuits as well.

5. (unrelated) Dearest Charlotte, I understand if you would prefer to reveal yourself only through your unique lens on the blog, but I think many of your readers would LOVE a post telling us about you yourself! We've so enjoyed your coverage over the years, and I have a feeling that this is merely one of your many worthwhile persuits!

Okay, again, these are just a few ideas from a wish-I-were-British perspective! You will do an amazing job, and I look forward to every single post.

Fantastic suggestions Anon 05:03! Thank you and thanks to Charlotte if she will follow your advice! As an Italian woman I can but be happy of such a nice perspective of becoming more learned about "being British".

I agree with you Mellie in regards to the press. But they named their daughter after Prince Charles and after other royals named Charlotte. Not after a person that they have never met who runs a blog. Not that there is anything wrong about running a blog. It is a good blog. But lets get it right. Old Friend

I wonder if William and Kate would ever consider using the names Peter or Valeriefor the next child. Peter and Valerie, Kate's paternal grandparents. We do have some time to think about that I guess. :)

It seems like it's true, otherwise we would have seen pictures of them arriving. Stuff like this annoys me. How can it hurt to just let the media take one more picture of them in a car. If the media consistently stalked their arrivals and departures I would get it, but it doesn't seem like that happens. A momentous occasion just happened, so how can it hurt to let the public get one last glimpse before the Cambridges retire to what is obviously going to be a very private summer for them. It's really not a huge deal either way - I just think stuff like this is so silly and doesn't help endear them to the press. Especially since the children would be protected by blacked out windows anyways. And especially since they were about to send out a letter asking for privacy. It seems like it's more likely they will be listened to if they let the press have these random moments.

I too liked Kate's look better the first time with George than this time with Charlotte. Just to be clear, this is not meant as criticism. She looked beautiful and I cannot imagine having to fave the press just hours after giving birth. But I do think she looked more natural after the first birth (vs looking almost overly coiffed this time), and while I like the design of this dress better, I liked the cut of the first one more. This one is so shapeless and I do find it sad that after she got so much credit and praise for "daring" to show her bump after the first birth, she went with a dress that hid it this time. But I don't blame her - I'm sure all the pictures after the first birth made her more aware of the media attention and made her want to look even nicer. I do wish one day a royal lady or celebrity would come out after giving birth in flats and no makeup - just naturally. It would be a lovely way to send a message of support to all of the mothers who can't afford a bespoke dress and a hairdresser at the hospital. It's obviously not Kate's fault that there is so much pressure for mothers to bounce back quickly nor is it her obligation to do anything about it, but I do wish she or someone else famous would do that once. But whatever, giving birth is already such a tremendous event, again, I can't imagine having to face the media so soon after. Kate did wonderfully and I hope they have some wonderful private time to themselves to bond with Charlotte and help George adjust.

Maggie I agree. I liked the look Kate put together after George more as well. It looked more natural and she still looked beautiful. This time she looked beautiful but way more done up-more like a doll. The dress hid her stomach but the blanket also hid it. She seemed more comfortable the first time around. I like her in a more low key look. I think it would encourage women that they don't always have to be done up to be beautiful. She looks great even when she is not dress up like a doll with a ton of makeup and a blowout. She is a such a pretty girl, she doesn't need it all.

I just wish them all much love and happiness. The poor girl is under a microscope every time she steps out the front door. She could wear baggy sweats and a hair scrunchie and we'd still admire her all the more for it.

No one is perfect. She's a wife & mom first and foremost. The rest is just icing. Though for her to sport a couple of tiaras now and again would be kind of fun too. It would surely help promote the princess fantasy.

Oh yeh. They 'tricked" the press. They planned it the whole way there amongst wicked and gleeful peals of sinister laughter.And then..............they did it................They used their side driveway instead of the front driveway........... Lol And here's a thought,Why didn't people go on and on about how thoughtful and caring it was when they sent pastries to the csmpers outside the hospital or sent a birthday cake AND card to Terry Hutt the EIGHTY year old camper outside the hospital.?????????????? Remember how William and Harry came out of Clarence House or wherever it was the night before George was born so they could say hi to the people outside awaiting the birth. Totally unplanned but kind and their po's had to scramble to make the necessary security adjustments? mere mention of those things.

Comments are most welcome! Constructive discussion is always encouraged but off topic or hateful remarks will not be published.

We ask you use a name when posting (a pseudonym such as the name of a royal you like or anything you wish). If you do not wish to use the sign in options, simply select the "Name/URL" option on the drop down menu and insert your name, and if you wish the country/state you're from. You can leave the URL blank.

If there are a large number of comments, it is necessary to click the 'Load More' button at the end of the comments section to see the latest additions.